My parents have been here for almost two weeks. They seem very happy to be new grandparents. The Weather in San Francisco has been kind, so walks with their granddaughter are now a daily occurrence. Mom prepares delicious dinners for us, including chłodnik cold beet soup, pierogi made with Polish flour, and yummie pomidorówka, to name a few. Dad even helps out with the ironing! On the weekends, my parents accompany us to … open houses!?.
On Saturdays and Sundays those interested in buying real estate can visit, without scheduling an appointment in advance, houses put up for sale, so called Open Houses. I noticed that when female real estate agents arrange them, snacks are usually served. Once there was even champagne 🙂
We have been looking for a place of our own for at least two months, and it is not the easiest task.
Every listing we analyze in terms of, among others, the proximity to work (if it is quite far away, how long the public transport or car route would take), proximity to parks, preferably with a playground :), shops or major streets, the degree that it is a family friendly neighborhood, the quality of nearby schools, the amount of outside space – tiny garden, balcony, for we live in sunny California ..), the presence of central heating (in the evening it gets quite cold in the city) or wooden floors or carpets (often encountered here …), parking spaces, the steepness of the street on which we could live, the presence of stairs inside and outside, very popular in San Francisco (remember, we are now using a stroller). Not all homes have the ability to insert a washing machine.
And of course the price. In order to buy a decent two-bedroom apartment, with a normal size bathroom, you have to put a minimum of one million US dollars! Probably that’s why morgage brokers, offering favorable loans are sometimes present during the open houses.
The properties are usually sold at a much higher price, and often as a result of a bidding war. The one, who offers the highest price, gets the property. It is not easy. We hear stories of foreign investors who overbid easily residents’ of San Francisco offers by offering cash, where locals need to get bank loans in order to pay.
We have already seen many apartments. Although some were really very nice, nothing has yet spoken to us 100%. I do not think that we are very picky.
The advantage to seeking accommodation is exploring neighborhoods and charming hidden alleys of San Francisco. However during the weekend we are planning a house tour outside the city- in Berkeley. Maybe there we will have more luck :)One of the listings:http://sfarmls.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Sanfrancisco&PRGNAME=MLSPictureDescriptions&ARGUMENTS=-N133124321,-N433545,-AE (update: This apartment is now off the market. We are still looking. We have put one offer on a charming house in Berkeley. Unfortunately we did not win the bidding war, maybe next time we will be the lucky buyers).
Hi Helena, I know the Berkeley housing market well – have been to probably hundreds of "open houses", and my Aunt, my cousin, and my Father, were all licensed realtors. If you are interested in some company/assistance when you come over this way, let me know. As always with realty, location is super-important, and I know the neighborhoods.